Why I Shipped My Discontinued Scarpa Maestros to Italy for a Resole
Scarpa make incredible shoes, from my beloved ski boots to approach shoes they are my brand of choice! One shoe in particular is now precious to me, the Scarpa Maestro Rock Shoe – as it has been discontinued. That presents a dilemma. These shoes hit a perfect sweet spot for me: comfortable enough for long trad days, yet precise and stiff enough that I can trust them on the “Try Hard”. They’re reliable, trustworthy, and frankly, I just don’t want to say goodbye.
The problem? Faithful service had taken their toll on the rubber, especially on the toe. The uppers, however, still had plenty of life left. This is a common scenario for climbers, and it immediately brings one question to mind: Buy or Resole.
The Math of Sustainability: Cost vs. Replacement
Before diving into the quality of the service, let’s talk numbers. This is where the decision to resole makes the most sense, both economically and environmentally:
- The Resole Cost: Scarpa’s factory resole service came in at around £70.
- The Replacement Cost: A new pair of high-spec climbing shoes today costs at least £130.
That’s a direct saving of £60 on the first repair!
But the savings don’t stop there. You can resole your shoe more than once, which exponentially increases the value and longevity of your original purchase. This highlights the importance of taking care of the upper and, critically, getting your shoes resoled before you totally burn through the toe. Early resoling prevents rand damage and keeps the shoe structure intact, making subsequent repairs much more successful.
Why Not Just Buy New?
Sure, I could continue to burn through my beloved Maestro’s then just buy a new pair of shoes. There are plenty of options, I did spend time looking but there was nothing that inspired me. There’s also a significant financial cost in buying climbing shoes these days, and perhaps more importantly, an environmental one. Replacing perfectly good uppers simply because the rubber is worn out feels wasteful in a new age where sustainability should be at the forefront of our minds. A resole extends the life of a product, keeping it out of landfill and reducing the demand for new manufacturing.
I’ve had shoes resoled by other UK based firms before, and often with good results. But for my Maestros, this now precious shoe, I wanted something more. I wanted the factory advantage. This led me to Scarpa UK’s official resole service ultimately performed by experts at the factory in Italy.
This is where Scarpa’s service truly shines. Sending your shoes back to the original manufacturer means they can do so much more than just slap on new rubber. They have:
- Original Lasts and Molds: Ensuring the shoe retains its original shape and fit as much as possible.
- Original Materials: High-quality rubber identical to what was on the shoe initially.
- Comprehensive Repair Capability: This was a huge selling point for me. While my Maestros primarily needed new soles, the factory service offers the ability to essentially “rebuild your shoe” if needed. This means repairing rands, addressing delamination, or fixing other issues that a standard resole might not cover. It gives you peace of mind that your beloved shoes are in the hands of those who built them in the first place.
Even though it meant shipping my shoes internationally, the sustainability aspect of extending their life, combined with the unparalleled quality of a factory repair, made it an easy decision.
The logistics were straightforward: I contacted Scarpa’s UK team, sent my shoes to their designated UK address, and from there, they managed the journey to Italy and back. The communication was excellent, and while it takes a little longer than a local resole due to the international travel, the wait was absolutely worth it.
When my Maestros returned, it was like greeting an old friend who’d just had a serious makeover. They looked and more importantly still felt incredible. The new rubber was perfectly applied, the edges crisp, and the shoe’s integrity felt completely restored. They weren’t just resoled; they were revitalised.
I would highly recommend this service to anyone looking to have any Scarpa footwear resoled. Head to their website to find out more information at www.scarpa.co.uk.
A Quick Note on Transparency
I want to be clear: this post is in no way sponsored by Scarpa. I simply paid for the service myself and was so impressed by the quality and the undeniable value of resoling that I wanted to highlight it.